Don't rule out the underdog
Alex ConnorThe World Cup is here,
New York Knicks win in five,
Will it be the Canes or Knights?
I’ll see you at MetLife!
OK, not my best poetry. But a convergence of major sporting events beyond the World Cup is bringing out the best of the U.S. right now. Even if you can’t make it to a match (looks like those ticket prices aren’t going down), my ask is that you head to a watch party or fan festival. There’s nothing sweeter than to celebrate with community. Unless, of course, your team loses.
This is how yesterday’s matches played out:
I’m Alex, your "Extra Time," host and I’m headed to Jersey for the France vs. Senegal match on Tuesday. But first, let’s talk about the team making their World Cup debut today.
First, did you read this?
- How soccer, once dismissed, won over America and surged into the mainstream.
- The Netherlands enters its match with Japan full of confidence in itself. If only the fans felt the same.
- Scotland shares special World Cup win with fans: “This country's waited so, so long.”
- World Cup is kicking off. Which team should win? Tell us. | Opinion
David vs. Goliath?
Curaçao is the smallest country to ever appear at a World Cup, and it’s facing Germany in its debut — a nation that’s appeared in the tournament more than any other European nation.
Did you know? Curaçao’s Dick Advocaat, 78, will break the record for oldest coach — a milestone that’s been broken twice already in the past four days alone (South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos is 74 and so is Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek).
To make it all the more interesting, Germany's Julian Nagelsmann is the youngest coach at age 38. That’s a 40-year age gap — and the largest ever between two coaches at a World Cup match.
Advocaat is a bit of a World Cup veteran. He led the Netherlands to the quarterfinals in 1994 and coached South Korea in 2006. However, they were eliminated in the group stage.
While powerhouse Germany is favored to win, don’t rule Curaçao out.
“We (Curaçao ) think we can still surprise somebody and that’s what we have to try tomorrow, and then the next game and the next game,” Advocaat said. “And at the end, we will see what we have done.”
Did you see this?
- Watch this: How soccer went from obscurity to America's third most popular sport.
- Video: Boos or cheers? Inside USMNT watch parties in Mexico and Canada.
- Breaking down Folarin Balogun's huge World Cup performance for USA.
- Prediction: Why France's motivation can carry them deep in this World Cup.
Schedule
Enjoy today’s matches!
Alex